Keith Amemiya, the exectuive administrator and secretary of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents and a former executive with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, has been appointed senior vice president of Island Holdings, the parent company of Island Insurance, Atlas Insurance Agency, IC International and Tradewind Capital Group.

Amemiya will be responsible for the company's risk management practices in additional to handling legal and regulatory compliance. He is scheduled to begin his new position Dec. 3.

"Keith brings an impressive background that spans the business, legal and nonprofit communities across Hawaii," said Colbert Matsumoto, chairman and president of Island Holdings.

Amemiya's last day as executive administrator and secretary at UH is Nov. 30. Previously, he was executive director of the HHSAA for nearly 12 years.

Hawaiian adds capacity for Manila route

Hawaiian Airlines is adding seat and cargo-carrying capacity to its Manila service to accommodate increased demand during the upcoming holidays and winter season.

The state's largest carrier, which flies between Hono­lulu and the Philippines four days a week, will switch to a 294-seat Airbus A330-200 from a 264-seat Boeing 767-300ER beginning Sunday and will continue with the larger aircraft through March 31. The A330 will add more than 2,500 new air seats during the peak travel period and boost Hawaiian's cargo capacity on the route by 25 percent.

This will mark the first time Hawaiian has operated an A330 on the Manila-Hono­lulu route.

Hawaiian began service to Manila on April 14, 2008.

Retail gains in October could hurt holidays

NEW YORK » Americans spent briskly in October before superstorm Sandy hit the Northeast at the end of the month. But the question is whether they're still willing to buy an iPhone for Christmas if they plunked down hundreds on a generator for Sandy.

Twenty-one retailers from club operator Costco to department store Macy's reported that sales in October through Saturday were up 5 percent compared with the year-ago period, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. That beat the trade group's estimated growth of 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent. Results were not hurt by the storm because it hit the East Coast on Monday, two days after the period for which retailers were reporting sales ended.

But analysts fear that many Americans in some of the nation's biggest cities who bought generators, bottled water and other emergency and cleanup supplies before and after the storm will be less inclined to spend over the holidays.

Ford's Fields promoted, could become CEO

DETROIT » Ford's leaders have watched Mark Fields, a brash Harvard M.B.A., turn the company's North American business into a profit machine. Now they're eyeing him for CEO. Fields, 51, was named chief operating officer Thursday, a sign the board favors him for the top job when CEO Alan Mulally eventually retires. Mulally, 67, plans to stay at least through 2014, a decision that reassured Wall Street.

Exxon profit falls 7 percent to $9.57 billion

IRVING, Texas » Exxon Mobil Corp.'s third-quarter profit fell 7 percent as it produced less oil and gas and fetched lower prices. The weak global economy has lowered demand for everything from gasoline to jet fuel. Fear about future growth has undercut prices for oil and natural gas.

The nation's biggest oil company said that net income totaled $9.57 billion, down from $10.33 billion a year earlier. That works out to $2.09 per share. Analysts expected $1.95 per share, according to FactSet.

Revenue fell 8 percent, to $115.71 billion, still better than the $112.40 billion that analysts had forecast.

Starbucks raises forecast as traffic climbs

NEW YORK » Starbucks Corp. on Thursday raised its forecast for the year, after the coffee chain said more customers are going to its cafes, even in the challenging global economy.

The Seattle-based company said global revenue at cafes open at least a year rose 6 percent in the fiscal fourth quarter, driven by higher customer traffic. The measure is a key gauge because it strips out the impact of newly opened and closed locations.

Starbucks lifted its guidance for the year ending in September 2013 to $2.06 to $2.15 per share. That's up from its previous outlook of $2.04 to $2.14 per share.

ON THE MOVE

Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, a law firm in Hono­lulu, has hired Bethany C.K. Ace as its newest associate. She was licensed in 2006 and joins the firm with six years of litigation experience with two private firms.

The Council of Residential Specialists has awarded Tanya Haw­kins the Certified Residential Specialist Designation. She is a sales associate with Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties in Hono­lulu.

Hospice Hawaii has hired the following chaplains, who will direct its Patient and Family Services:

» The Rev. Nayer Taheri is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. She has served pediatric and adult patients in hospital and hospice settings for more than 15 years.

» Chaplain Jessica Knutzen is a clinically certified chaplain. She has 10 years of ministry experience, including previously providing emotional and spiritual care to patients and families at the Queen's Medical Center as well as the Hawaii State Hospital.

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